On the night of 26th / 27th September 1942 10 Squadron were to have sent a number of their aircraft to bomb Flensburg, this aircraft set out from Pocklington at 20.33hrs but all aircraft were re-called while over Denmark. This crew jettisoned their bombs in the sea and were making for home when they were attacked by an Me110. The 10 Squadron ORB doed not mention any flak damage but it does state that no damage was sustained to the Halifax but this must surely be an error as the rear gunner was awarded an immediate DFM for his actions after this attack. He returned fire and scored hits on the engine of the enemy aircraft which was then seen to catch fire and crash into the sea. The Halifax returned to base and landed at 01.45hrs. The pilot was later awarded the DFC as well and his citation mentions the incident. The rear gunner, Sgt Bramwell, was awarded the DFM, Gazetted on 20th November 1942 for his actions and the citation adds a lot more detail, it reads..
"This airman was the rear gunner of an aircraft engaged on a sortie one night in September 1942. On the return journey, whilst flying over the enemy coast, the aircraft was subjected to anti-aircraft fire from an armed ship. A large hole was torn in the fuselage and the inter-communication system rendered unserviceable. Consequently, Sergeant Bramwell, who had observed an enemy fighter within close range, was unable to warn his captain of the added danger. The fighter closed in and its pilot raked the fuselage and tail with gunfire. Despite this, Sergeant Bramwell delivered two accurate bursts causing the attacker to break away and plunge towards the sea with its engine in flames. In the face of a trying situation, this airman displayed great courage and devotion to duty."
Pilot - P/O Stanley Alan Somerscales RAFVR (136222).
Navigator - Sgt James Hubert Lewis RAF (656546).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Joseph Edward Hounam RAFVR (1065852).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt John Howard Reavill RAFVR (1185888).
Air Gunner - Sgt Robert Shannon RAAF (411231).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Sidney William Stephen RAFVR (971362).
Air Gunner - Sgt William Bramwell RAFVR (977402).
Halifax DG230 was built to contract ACFT/637/C4/C by Rootes Securities Ltd. at Speke and was taken on charge by 10 Squadron at Leeming on 26th July 1942. The squadron moved to Melbourne on 19th August 1942. As a result of operational battle damage on 27th September 1942 minor Cat.Ac/FB damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site with the repair complete by 31st October 1942. It was again slightly damaged by enemy action on the night of 9th / 10th January 1943 with Cat.B/FB damage being in the initial damage assessment that was swiftly downgraded to Re-Cat.A/FB the following day. The repairs after this incident were completed by 26th February 1943. The aircraft was then transferred to 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit at Marston Moor on 21st April 1943. On 14th November 1943 it crashed at Kirk Hammerton and was destroyed after which Cat.E2/FA damage was the damage assessment. It was struck off charge on 27th November 1943.
William Bramwell was born in Lancashire in 1917 and was working as a grocer when he joined the RAFVR in 1940. He appears to have flown his first operational flight while still training at 19 OTU during the Thousand Bomber raid in mid-1942, he was later posted to 10 Squadron towards the end of the same month. For his actions in Halifax DG230 on 26th/27th September 1942 he was awarded an immediate DFM, Gazetted on 20th November 1942. He completed a Tour with 10 Squadron and was then posted to instruct. He received his commission on 11th March 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation (142843), and was promoted to F/O on 11th September 1943 and later to F/Lt on 11th March 1945. He begun a second Tour in February 1944 with 156 Squadron and for service with them he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 14th November 1944. The recommendation for his DFC, as located by Hugh Halliday, reads.."Flying Officer Bramwell has completed 55 operational sorties, 31 of which have been with the Path Finder Force, including 29 Marker sorties. He was awarded the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal after his eighth sortie. Some of the targets attacked have been heavily contested areas of Germany and Italy. This officer is an outstanding Gunner in a crew which have carried out Master Bomber duties on eight occasions, both by day and by night. His vigilance and efficient directions to his pilot have been contributory to many successful evasions of enemy aircraft. He has been at grips with the enemy on many occasions, and proved himself to be a most cool and resolute Gunner. He has set an example of keenness and devotion to duty of a very high standard to other Gunners in the Squadron, and I strongly recommend him for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross." He reliquished his commission on the grounds of being medically unfit on 30th December 1945. His medal set sold at auction in 2002.
By April 1944 Somerscales, Lewis, Reavill and Stephen were posted to 76 Squadron and were undertaking a second Tour, they were flying together on 23rd April 1944 in Halifax MZ578 on Ops to Dusseldorf. The aircraft was set on fire by flak and the crew abandoned the aircraft. Somerscales died as a result of the incident, he was twenty six years old and is buried in Maastricht General Cemetery, Holland. A memorial is now on the crash site. Reavill and Stephen became PoW's while Lewis evaded capture and returned to Britain.
Stanley Somerscales was granted a commission (136222) on 8th September 1942 to P/O on probation, rising to F/O on probation on 8th March 1943. He was in the rank of Acting S/Ldr by April 1944. He was awarded the DFC for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 20th April 1943. The citation for his DFC must mention the incident detailed above and it reads.."It is characteristic of this officer's flying ability that he never flew on an operational sortie in the role of second pilot. On his first sortie the main hydraulic pipe-line burst shortly after taking off and one engine failed, but Pilot Officer Somerscales continued on his mission and bombed the target, returning with the bombs doors open. Returning from Bremen on another occasion this officer's aircraft was attacked for 15 minutes by six enemy fighters, and although the bomber was hit, he succeeded in flying it back to base. Later, in September 1942, his aircraft was hit and badly damaged by shells. At the same time a Messerschmitt 110 attacked from astern and inflicted further damage before being shot down into the sea after an encounter lasting ten minutes. Pilot Officer Somerscales is a courageous and skilful captain of aircraft."
Sidney Stephen received his commission on 3rd September 1943 to P/O on probation (157576), he was promoted to F/O on 3rd March 1944 and F/Lt on 3rd September 1945.
James Lewis also received the DFM for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 18th May 1943. He had received his commission to P/O on probation on 13th February 1943 (145176) and was promoted to F/O on 13th August 1943 and F/Lt on 13th February 1945.
John Reavill was awarded the DFM for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 18th May 1943. He received his commission on 2nd April 1943 to P/O on probation (144164) rising to F/O on 2nd October 1943 and F/Lt on 2nd April 1945. He relinquished his commission on the grounds of ill-health on 19th December 1945.
Joseph Hounam was awarded the DFM for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 14th May 1943. He received his commission on 21st June 1943 (1065852) to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) and was promoted to F/O six months later. On 24th May 1944 he was serving with 158 Squadron and made a PoW when Halifax LV918 was shot down on Ops to Aachen.
Robert Shannon was still with 10 Squadron when he was made a PoW on the night of 29th June 1943 while flying in Halifax HR697 on an operational flight to bomb Cologne. His then pilot was Roy Geddes who had just survived the crash to Halifax JD105 on Hood Hill, near Thirsk. Sgt Shannon was the only survivor of this incident to HR697.
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